DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

[001] The invention relates to bicycle racks, in particular to bicycle racks for transporting a bicycle with a vehicle.

Background of the invention

[002] US patent application publication No. US2008011795 discloses a bicycle transport rack comprising a junction bar which engages the trailer hitch of the vehicle and is used to mount a cross bar on the vehicle. The cross bar supports the bicycle for transportation by having a fixed bicycle fork support yoke at one extent thereof and having both a slidably adjustable support yoke and slidably adjustable tire well at an opposite extent thereof. Wheel carriers located on the cross arm receive either one or both of the bicycle wheels when the wheels are removed for transport. A pivot mechanism connects the cross bar and junction bar and can be used to pivot the cross bar between an upright position, used for transport, and an extended position used for accessing to the vehicle's rear doors.

[003] US patent publication No. US5497927 discloses a bicycle rack attached to a trailer hitch of a transporting vehicle. The bicycle rack comprises an elongate, central support member having a first end that is received in the trailer hitch receiver, with the central support member extending rearwardly from the transporting vehicle. At least two elongate, transverse support members are attached to the central support member so that the transverse support members extend transversely across the rear end of the transporting vehicle. First and second, elongate, rigid, stabilizer members are connected between and securely affixed to the transverse support members at a position closely adjacent to the respective first and second ends of the transverse support members. Wheel support members are associated with one end of each of the transverse support members for retaining a back wheel of a bicycle at the one end of such transverse support member. A forward support mechanism is associated with a second end of each of the transverse support members for engaging a portion of a bicycle located forward of the back wheel of such bicycle to secure the forward end portion of the bicycle to the second end of the transverse support member and to maintain the bicycle in an upright position. Similar device is disclosed also in US patent No. US6460745.

[004] However, aforementioned designs are not compatible with truck semi-trailers, as their attachment at the end of the semi-trailer would extend the overall length of the truck. Also, the bicycle cannot be stored in the cargo space of the semi-trailer, as it would take up space for the cargo and would not be available when the cargo is sealed. Accordingly, other solutions for transporting bicycles by truck need to be considered.

Summary of the invention

[005] The aim of the invention is reached by design of a bicycle rack releasably attachable to a semi-trailer of a truck at a side of the semi-trailer that is directed towards the truck. There is very limited space between the truck and the semi-trailer, therefore arrangement of something else like a bicycle rack is very problematic. Hence, no one has ever thought to put something therebetween. The bicycle rack mainly comprises three interconnected elements: a first, elongate, telescopic, support member; a second, elongate, support member and a cross bar arranged and connected therebetween. All three elements are arranged in one common plane, making this bicycle rack very compact.

[006] The first, elongate, telescopic, support member comprises a first end and a second end. The first, elongate, telescopic, support member comprises an extendable bar adapted to be extended from and retracted into the first, elongate, telescopic, support member. The first, elongate, telescopic, support member and the extendable bar comprises an adjustment and locking means configured to adjust the extendable bar in relations to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member and lock them into adjusted position. The extendable bar at a furthest end from the first, elongate, telescopic, support member comprises a hook being adapted to engage and securely hold a front wheel of a bicycle.

[007] In one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment and locking means comprises holes in the first, elongate, telescopic, support member and holes in the extendable bar. The holes are arranged so that the holes can coincide, and a locking pin is insertable to lock the extendable bar in relation to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member. The adjustment and locking means may be any means known to the skilled person that allow adjust and lock the extendable bar in relation to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member.

[008] The second, elongate, support member comprises a first end and a second end. The second, elongate, support member is spaced apart from and arranged parallel to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member. The length of the second, elongate, support member is smaller than the length first, elongate, telescopic, support member. The first end of the second, elongate, support member is at the same level as the first end of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member.

[009] The cross bar is attached to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member and the second end of the second, elongate, support member, and positioned therebetween. The cross bar defines a distance between the first, elongate, telescopic, support member and the second, elongate, support member.

[010] The bicycle rack further comprises two feet. One foot is attached to the first end of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member and another foot is attached to the first end of the second, elongate, support member. Each feet comprises positioning tabs adapted to be inserted into a structure of the semi-trailer so that the bicycle rack is positionable in a predetermined position on the semi-trailer. The positioning tabs may be adjustable so they match to the holes in the structure of the semitrailer, especially in the connector panel of the semi-trailer.

[Oi l] The bicycle rack further comprises at least two locks adapted to lock the bicycle rack in the predetermined position on the semi-trailer. At least one lock locks one foot to the structure of the semi-trailer and at least one lock locks another foot to the structure of the semi-trailer. The locks may be any design known to the skilled person that are suitable for securing of the bicycle rack to the semi-trailer, especially to the connector panel of the semi-trailer.

[012] The bicycle rack further comprises a rear wheel support attached to the foot that is attached to the first end of the second, elongate, support member. The rear wheel support is curved so that it further adapted to receive and hold a rear wheel of a bicycle to be transported. [013] The length of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member is in a range of 1000 to 1400 mm, preferably 1200 mm. The length of the second, elongate, support member is in a range of 550 to 750 mm, preferably 650 mm. The extendable bar adapted to be extended from the first, elongate, telescopic, support member for about 100 to 300 mm so that the bicycle rack is suitable for almost any bicycle.

[014] The bicycle rack comprises at least two belt attachment points . One belt attachment point is attached to the rear wheel support adapted to support a belt that secures a rear wheel of a bicycle to be transported and second belt attachment point is attached to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member adapted to support a belt that secures a front wheel of a bicycle to be transported. [015] The first, elongate, telescopic, support member, the second, elongate, support member and the cross bar are made from square, rectangular round tubes. Preferably the tubes are hollow.

Brief description of the drawings

[016] The drawings illustrate, by way of example, various embodiments of the invention which fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

[017] Fig. 1 illustrates a truck (10) with a semi-trailer (20) with a space for a bicycle rack (1) therebetween.

[018] Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section A-A of the truck (10) and the semi-trailer (20) as seen in Fig. 1.

[019] Fig. 3 is a photo showing a bicycle rack (1) with a bicycle attached thereto, wherein the bicycle rack (1) is installed on a semi-trailer (20).

[020] Fig. 4 A is a bicycle rack (1) in a view from its backside or from a side that is directed towards a semi-trailer (20).

[021] Fig. 4B is a side view of the bicycle rack (1) as seen in Fig. 4A.

Description of embodiments of the invention

[022] Examples of the practice of the invention are described with reference to the drawings to illustrate the objects, advantages and effectiveness of the invention.

[023] Fig. 1 illustrates a truck (10) with a semi-trailer (20) with a space for a bicycle rack (1) therebetween. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section A-A of the truck (10) and the semi-trailer (20) as seen in Fig. 1. The bicycle rack (1) is positioned on a connector panel (21) of the semitrailer (20). This connector panel (21) is configured for connection electric circuit and pneumatic lines of the semi-trailer (20) to electric circuit and pneumatic lines of the truck (10). The connector panel (21) extends from the semi-trailer (20), but not so much so it does not restrict articulation of the truck (10) and connected semi-trailer (20).

[024] Fig. 3 is a photo showing a bicycle rack (1) with a bicycle attached thereto. The bicycle rack (1) is installed on a connector panel (21) of a semi-trailer (20).

[025] Figs. 4A and 4B illustrates a bicycle rack (1) releasably attachable to a semi-trailer (20) of a truck (10) at a side of the semi-trailer (20) that is directed towards the truck (10). The bicycle rack (1) comprises a first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) having first end (21) and second end (22). The length of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member is 1194 mm. The first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) comprises an extendable bar (3) adapted to be extended from and retracted into the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2). The extendable bar adapted to be extended from the first, elongate, telescopic, support member for about 100 mm. The first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) and the extendable bar (3) comprises an adjustment and locking means (4) configured to adjust the extendable bar (3) in relations to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) and lock them into adjusted position. The adjustment and locking means (4) comprise holes (41) in the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) and holes (42) in the extendable bar (3). The holes (41; 42) are arranged so that the holes (41; 42) can coincide and a locking pin (43) is insertable to lock the extendable bar (3) in relation to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2). The extendable bar (3) at a furthest end from the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) comprises a hook (5) being adapted to engage and securely hold a front wheel of a bicycle. The bicycle rack (1) comprises a second, elongate, support member (6) having first end (61) and second end (62). The length of the second, elongate, support member is 640 mm. The second, elongate, support member (6) is spaced apart from and arranged parallel to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2). The length of the second, elongate, support member (6) is smaller than the length first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2). The first end (61) of the second, elongate, support member (6) is at the same level as the first end (21) of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2). The bicycle rack (1) comprises a cross bar (7) attached to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) and the second end (62) of the second, elongate, support member (3), and positioned therebetween. The length of the cross bar (7) is 655 mm. The bicycle rack (1) comprises two feet (8), wherein one foot (8) is attached to the first end (21) of the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) and another foot (8) is attached to the first end (61) of the second, elongate, support member (6), wherein each feet (8) comprises positioning tabs (81) adapted to be inserted into a structure of the semitrailer (20) so that the bicycle rack (1) is positionable in a predetermined position on the semitrailer (20). The bicycle rack (1) comprises two locks (82) adapted to lock the bicycle rack (1) in the predetermined position on the semi-trailer (20). At least one lock (82) locks one foot (8) to the structure of the semi-trailer (20) and at least one lock (82) locks another foot (8) to the structure of the semi-trailer (20). The bicycle rack (1) comprises a rear wheel support (9) attached to the foot (8) that is attached to the first end (61) of the second, elongate, support member (6). The rear wheel support (9) is curved so that it further adapted to receive and hold a rear wheel of a bicycle to be transported. The bicycle rack comprises two belt attachment points (11). One belt attachment point (11) is attached to the rear wheel support (9) adapted to support a belt (seen in Fig. 3) that secures a rear wheel of a bicycle to be transported. The second belt attachment point (11) is attached to the first, elongate, telescopic, support member (2) adapted to support a belt (seen in Fig. 3) that secures a front wheel of a bicycle to be transported.

[026] While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of which have been shown by way of example in the figures and have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.